Yosemite is world-renowned for its epic beauty, featuring towering cliffs, giant trees, and thundering waterfalls. It’s also infamous for traffic. The park sees up to four million visitors a year, the vast majority of whom travel by car. In the summer peak season, congestion is often the norm. The good news? You don’t need a car to either get to or explore Yosemite. In fact, traveling car-free is not only entirely doable, it’s one of the most sustainable and enjoyable ways to experience the park.
At Incredible Adventures, we believe in making travel better for both people and the planet. That’s why we offer a range of eco-friendly Yosemite National Park Tours from San Francisco, traveling in mini coaches that use sustainable biofuels.
We’ve created this guide on how to travel to Yosemite without a car, whether you join one of our tours or plan your own adventure. And if you have any questions about our sustainable tours, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Getting to Yosemite Without a Car
Yosemite National Park is located in central California and is easily accessible from most major cities, with Merced serving as the gateway to the park. Traveling into the park is smooth using either public transport or by joining a tour, either of which will save you the hassle of parking and give you the assurance of reduced emissions.
Yosemite Public Transit Options
You can reach Yosemite from California cities using a combination of public transport options. Amtrak, the national railroad, offers rail and bus services into the Yosemite Valley, while Greyhound offers buses into Merced.
From Merced, Fresno, Mammoth Lakes, and Sonora, you can use YARTS, the Yosemite Regional Transportation System. You can easily connect to YARTS services from train, airline, and bus, making for a seamless trip into the valley. Enjoy an air-conditioned ride, with enough luggage space and accessible seating. YARTS fares include your entrance tickets, and discounts are available for children, seniors, veterans, and ADA passengers.
Traveling to Yosemite on an Incredible Adventures Tour
If you want to save yourself from having to arrange public transportation, our tours offer the ideal Yosemite sustainable travel option. Departing from San Francisco, we travel in small groups of up to 13 people in a mini-coach. Our vehicles use biofuels, which are completely renewable and petroleum-free. You’ll travel in the comfort of knowing your trip is entirely sustainable — and save yourself the stress of navigating!
While public transport and tours offer you a less stressful travel experience, you’ll still encounter congestion in the park, especially in summer. If you’d prefer to avoid this, read our blog about Why You Should Visit Yosemite in the Off-Season.
How to Get Around Inside Yosemite
Yosemite Valley Shuttle
Once inside Yosemite, the Yosemite Valley Shuttle offers free transport across the park. The Valleywide shuttle serves all stops in the valley, including lodges, trailheads, and picnic areas. The East Valley shuttle only serves the area between the welcome center and Mirror Lake. Shuttles are available between 7 am and 10 pm and arrive approximately every 12 to 22 minutes.
Yosemite Bike Rentals
Renting a bike makes quick work of exploring the valley, bypassing car traffic and letting you breathe in the fresh air. Bike rentals, including electric scooters and wheelchairs, are available at Curry Village, Yosemite Village, and Yosemite Valley Lodge. There are also ADA bicycles available, which need to be reserved beforehand.
Walking Between Yosemite Attractions
Many of Yosemite’s highlights are closer than you think. For example, you can walk from the Yosemite Falls viewing point to Sentinel Bridge in about 20 minutes, with stunning vistas along the way. If you’re already planning on hiking, walking simply adds to the journey. Walking is also ideal for slowing down and immersing yourself in the environment.
Should you be hesitant about exploring on foot, read our blog about Yosemite National Park for Non-Hikers.
Where to Stay in Yosemite Without a Car
If you’re traveling without a vehicle, staying within the park or nearby can make accessing it much easier. There are a number of accommodation options within the park and in the surrounding gateway towns, but booking in advance is essential in the peak season.
Inside the park, Yosemite Valley offers several lodging options, including Curry Village, the Ahwahnee Hotel, and Yosemite Valley Lodge. These places are either walkable or accessible via the valley shuttle. There are also a number of camping sites available for a more rustic stay.
Outside of Yosemite, the towns of El Portal, Mariposa, and Oakhurst offer diverse accommodations and are all served by YARTS, allowing you to travel into the park daily with ease.
Join Our Eco-Friendly Yosemite Tours
By far the easiest way to visit Yosemite without a car? Our eco-friendly tours! With our small group sizes, biodiesel vans, and experienced guides, our tours make traveling to Yosemite without a car easy, comfortable, and fulfilling. You can choose to join any one of our Yosemite Day Tours or Multi-Day Yosemite Tours, sharing the transport for a much more sustainable and social experience. You can also choose to travel on a private tour with just your group, letting our guides take care of the transport.
However you choose to visit Yosemite, going car-free is accessible, sustainable, and immersive. Relish your adventure with the knowledge that you are protecting the same environment you are exploring. If you have any questions about our tours, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can’t wait to embark on an eco-friendly journey with you!
